Jun 9, 2014 | Going Green, Mosquito
What If Mosquitoes Were Annihilated?
A recent video on Yahoo! News asked the question, “What If Mosquitoes were Annihilated?”. The video reminds us that mosquitoes, although tiny, have a HUGE impact on humans. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal killing more than 725,000 people each year. If mosquitoes are such a danger then why don’t we eradicate them?
Out of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, only 3 of those are the cause of disease spread. Is it worth it to destroy habitats, danger the environment, and disrupt the life cycle of other animals?
To watch the video, “What If Mosquitoes were Annihilated?” click HERE.
We may not be able to kill mosquitoes across the world but we can assist you in mosquito control for your home in an environmentally friendly manner. Call us today for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.
May 19, 2014 | Mosquito
Are Mosquitoes the Most Deadly Animal? The Dangers of Mosquitoes.
Bill Gates recently wrote “The Deadliest Animal in the World” on his blog, ‘gatesnotes’. In this article, Mr. Gates quotes some pretty startling statistics about the dangers of mosquitoes and their threat to humans. Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal in the world. How’s that for the tiny, annoying bug that we often sarcastically refer to as the “state bird”?!
There are over 2,500 species of mosquitoes around the world (covering every region except Antarctica). Besides termites and ants, mosquitoes outnumber every other animal.
What makes mosquitoes so dangerous?
Mosquitoes can carry malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile, and encephalitis. Malaria alone threatens half of the world’s population and is responsible for killing more than 600,000 people each year. Dengue fever causes serious illness and death, especially among children. Cases of dengue fever were discovered in Florida last year. Read more on Bill Gates recent trip to Indonesia to learn more about the fight against dengue fever HERE.
We encourage you to read Bill Gates full blog on the dangers of mosquitoes. For more information on what you can do to control mosquitoes around your home visit https://www.callnorthwest.com/pest-control/mosquito-control/
Sep 4, 2013 | Mosquito, Pest Control, Uncategorized
Prevention is key in keeping mosquitoes and other pests away from your home. Making your property less appealing to mosquitoes is a huge step in keeping mosquitoes away. If they don’t have a place to lay their eggs, then they won’t stick around. One of the most important things you can do is to remove areas of standing water.
This can be done by eliminating areas in your yard where standing water occurs (gutters, plants, lawn decor, tires, playgrounds, items found in yard, etc.). Make sure that things such as bird baths, fountains, and plants are emptied frequently.
This is one simple yet effective way to keep mosquitoes away.
Mosquito Control by a professional pest control company can effectively eliminate mosquito habitats and work with you to ensure that your property is not a mosquito magnet!
Call Northwest Exterminating for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.
Aug 23, 2013 | Mosquito
Northwest Exterminating representative, Courtesy of AJC
Need tips on how to keep mosquitoes away?
- Remove standing water from your yard. These areas serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Keep screens on windows and doors to keep them out of your home.
- Use an insect repellant. DEET is highly recommended. Be sure to read the label and reapply as necessary.
- Cover up. We know it’s hot but items like hats, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and shoes that cover your feet will help keep the mosquitoes from biting.
- Wear light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors so keep it light and bright to keep them away.
- Stay still. Movement produces a change in waves of light and acts as a signal to mosquitoes. Carbon dioxide is also an attractant, so the more you move, the harder you breathe and the more you attract mosquitoes.
- Plants. Certain strong smelling plants help keep mosquitoes away. Citronella, marigolds, and lemongrass are some of the plants you can use outdoors, while rosemary and basil are said to be helpful inside.
- Home remedies. There is no shortage of DIY remedies online. Some of these can be useful for short term effectiveness.
- Professional pest management. A trained pest control technician can inspect your property to identify what is attracting the mosquito infestation. The technician can then treat your property in an earth friendly and effective manner. They can also provide you with a plan to keep mosquitoes away.
These are just a few tips on keeping mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are known carriers of diseases like West Nile virus, encephalitis, and heartworms in dogs. Make sure that you are protecting yourself and your loved ones. For more information, visit our blog or call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849.
Why Do Mosquitoes Love Me So Much?
Aug 21, 2013 | Mosquito
Good news…we’re no longer in a drought!!
Bad news…thanks to all of the record breaking rain, we have record amounts of pests, especially mosquitoes!
Moisture is known to attract pests. They, like humans, need moisture to survive. So it’s no surprise that with the large amount of rain we’ve gotten this year that mosquitoes have become a major issue for Georgia residents.
Georgia is no stranger to mosquitoes. Between standing water (lakes, ponds, creeks, even standing water in your yard) and the local vegetation, we are accustomed to this issue. While some residents turn to DIY options, those aren’t always effective. Going to the local hardware store and picking out a product from the shelves may help short term but will not get to the source of the mosquito infestation.
Northwest Exterminating’s Green Mosquito Control provides monthly mosquito treatments by a licensed professional. Our professionals are knowledgeable about the products they are using, what attracts mosquitoes, and the process of keeping them away. Our professional exterminators will inspect the property and identify the source of the breeding and nesting areas. After they’ve determined these areas they are able to apply an environmentally friendly product derived from flowers and bacteria.
For tips on ways to reduce mosquitoes visit HERE.
For more information on Northwest Exterminating’s Green Mosquito Control call 888.466.7849 or visit us online at www.callnorthwest.com
Aug 7, 2013 | Mosquito
Asian Tiger Mosquito
If you are just now being able to absorb the menace of the Gallinipper mosquito, unfortunately you won’t be able to breathe easy just yet. Evidently, tourists aren’t the only people coming to our American shores this summer. The Asian tiger mosquito is named for the black-and-white stripes on its body. You may think that spraying on some bug spray during the day time will help keep them at bay, but think again! This mosquito is different from others in that it bites all day long and pursues not only humans, but also dogs, cats, birds and other animals.
According to Livescience.com, entomology professor Dina Fonseca reports “Part of the reason it is called ‘tiger’ is also because it is very aggressive… you can try and swat it all you want, but once it’s on you, it doesn’t let go.” Another serious concern of this particular insect is that it spreads more than 20 diseases, including West Nile fever, dengue fever, yellow fever and two types of encephalitis.
Since the 1980s, the Asian tiger mosquito has reached 26 states, primarily in the eastern United States. Warm weather helps this pest get around, but its eggs are also capable of surviving cold weather. To help eliminate the potential destruction of this pest, it is important to remove standing water, wear insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants outdoors. Naturally, Northwest Exterminating is equipped with preventive solutions to give you a mosquito-free summer. If you’re interested in our services, give us a call!
Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/37715-asian-tiger-mosquitoes-chikungunya.html
Sep 3, 2012 | Mosquito
West Nile Virus has made its way back into the news for 2012. After a few years of laying low, health officials have warned that the virus is once again on the rise. Reports state that four times the usual number of cases for this time of year have been identified. As of August 27, the AJC reported that Georgia had seen 21 cases of West Nile so far, which is only 1 case away from the 22 total that were reported in 2011.
Labor Day weekend is often spent outdoors enjoying the last little bit of summer. If you and your loved ones are going to be outdoors for the holiday, we urge you to take steps to keep the mosquitoes away.
Steps for keeping away mosquitoes/West Nile:
- Apply DEET, or any other EPA approved product that repels mosquitoes.
- Get rid of any standing water. These areas of standing water will be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and needs to be drained or removed.
- Use a bug zapper.
- Mosquitoes are active all day but the species that carry West Nile are most active at dusk and dawn.
- Use citronella candles.
- Wear waistbands or bracelets that have repellants built in or that can be clipped on.
- Wear loose, long sleeve pants and shirts when possible.
- Use screens on open doors and windows.
If you are bitten and start to experience symptoms like dizziness or fever, contact your physician.
Happy Labor Day to all from Northwest Exterminating!
Aug 15, 2012 | Mosquito
Health officials are saying that there have been more reports of West Nile virus this year than any other year since 2004. As of July, 241 people have been infected with the virus, 4 of those resulting in death.
The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has said that the West Nile season is off to an early start. Not only that but experts are expecting to see more cases of West Nile than in recent years. Read more on the West Nile season’s early start HERE.
The best way to prevent West Nile is to avoid getting mosquito bites in the first place. By wearing insect repellant, long sleeves and pants, you can decrease your chances of getting bit by mosquitoes. You can also protect your yard by having a professional mosquito control that will combine treatment methods that are effective in reducing adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae.
For more information on Northwest Exterminating’s Green Mosquito Control click here.
Jul 17, 2012 | Fire Ant, Mosquito, Pest Control, Termite Control, Wildlife
Community managers, property managers, and homeowners associations are in place in communities to enforce bylaws, maintain safety, maintenance and upkeep, and the general property value of a community. This is no easy task. The management teams above have their work cut out for them. It can difficult to deal with so many different trades in order to maintain a community. But with Northwest Exterminating, community managers can check pest and termite needs off of their list of worries.
Northwest Exterminating has a team in place that specializes in the pest and termite needs of management companies. Our Community Management Services Team is familiar with the demands of management companies and is in place to assist them with: termite control, pest control, mosquito control, wildlife control, fire ant control, and carpenter bee control. We provide pest and termite services for single-family detached housing, multi-unit housing, clubhouse, amenity buildings, and condominiums.
With professional representatives, ongoing training of staff, convenient billing, repair warranties, multiple locations throughout Georgia and Tennessee, and over 60 years of experience, Northwest is community manager’s choice for pest control.
For more information on how Northwest Exterminating’s Community Management Services team can help you, visit us online or call us at 888.466.7849.
